Nathan Willett Oral History conducted by John Horan and Lindsey Waldenberg

This interview with Nathan Willett discusses his life and identity as a Lebanese American in North Carolina. He details his upbringing in the Research Triangle area, his career in technology which began at a young age, and his education at Carnegie Mellon University. The core of the conversation focused on his deep connection to his Lebanese heritage through his mother's large and close-knit family, the Saleebey. He emphasized the central role of his maternal grandmother, an immigrant from Lebanon, whose work ethic and generosity became a family legacy. Willett highlighted food as the primary cultural touchstone, described the seamless integration of his non-Lebanese father into the family, and reflected on how he is passing his heritage on to his two children.

Moise A. Khayrallah Center for Lebanese Diaspora Studies

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